Statutory Moderation and Assessment

The core service is centrally funded for Slough maintained schools. When an Academy receives notifications of moderation at KS1 and/or KS2, they will be liable to cover the costs of the moderation that is incurred by the LA.  Academies were recently informed of this in the autumn term. 

All schools and academies are subject to formal moderation arrangements at least once in any four year period. Some schools will be moderated more frequently as moderation remains a key tool to support teachers and schools to be sure that standards are in line with national expectations.  These visits will take place in June each year. 

Moderation Process  

Academies and Free Schools must comply with statutory requirements for key stage 1 assessment. Schools must respond to STA communication in the autumn term, to confirm to STA which LA they wish to conduct moderation visits for each key stage. At least 25% of maintained schools and academies must be moderated each year.  Academies will be charged by the LA they select for this service. Academies must provide their selected LA with proof of their most recent moderation visit and the outcome. 

If an Independent School wishes to submit its results for the national summary of results it must employ an LA and take part in their moderation process - moderated in the first year it participates and then at least once in every four year cycle. 

Lovely to hear positive comments about the quality of writing across the curriculum.

 

- Headteacher in Slough

Schools are required to submit teacher assessment data to the DfE each year.  This year data must be submitted by Thursday 27th June 2019. 

Schools that are selected for inclusion in statutory moderation arrangements will be notified on or after 17th May 2019. In Slough, the window for moderation visits is Tuesday 4th June 2019 to Friday 21st June 2019. From the 24th June to 26th June schools could be re-moderated or be subject to part of the appeals process. Each school selected for moderation will receive a visit by members of the KS1 or KS2 moderation team. 

All moderators used have successfully completed this years standardization exercise as required by the STA (Standards and Testing Agency). 

In 2018/2019 the moderation process will focus on outcomes for reading, writing and mathematics at Key Stage 1. At Key Stage 2 the focus will be on outcomes for writing. Teachers will be asked to provide evidence to support teacher assessment judgements made for a sample of pupils in each teaching group with year 2 or year 6 pupils. Pupils will be selected randomly from information provided to the moderators the day before, if data has been shared with moderators early, by local agreement. 

Useful process, really positive experience, helpful advice from moderators on how to enhance future practice.

 

- Teacher in Slough

Full details of the STA Moderation process and requirements, along with the Sloughs Moderation Arrangements can be found in the local authority handbook, which will be available on this website soon.

Testing Arrangements 

In 2018/2019 all schools are required to administer tests (13th May - 16th May 2019) in grammar punctuation and spelling, reading and mathematics during May. The test materials will be delivered to schools between Monday 29th April 2019 to Friday 3rd May 2019. Test materials are subject to storage and security requirements. Materials are subject to secure storage requirements from the date of delivery until June. STA outline security of test material requirements in the 2019 ARA document. Schools should ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place. 

In 2018/2019 the local authority is required to visit a minimum of 10% of schools and academies to complete administration and security checks. All advisers completing monitoring and security checks are DBS checked.    

Phonics Screening Check 

The phonics screening check is a short, light-touch assessment to confirm whether individual children have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. It will identify the children who need extra help so they are given support by their school to improve their reading skills. 

As with KS1 and KS2 test administration the Phonics Screening check is subject to STA security and administration requirements as detailed in the assessment and reporting arrangements handbook and all specific handbooks and guidance. 

Unannounced visits are made to 10% of schools and academies before, during or after the check period in June to ensure that schools have robust procedures in place to maintain the integrity of the checks.